First Time for Everybody

As a student, my first car was 2002 Jetta GLS, but the transmission gave out. After it gave out three more times, it was decided that we should bag it. So, I struck a deal with the folks: I get a car I want, and I slowly buy it off so that when I graduate from college, it's mine to drive on my way out the door; I had planned on doing that with the Jetta then upgrading to a C6 somewhere down the road, but hey, silver linings.
Searched the usual sources for awhile; saw several cars in relatively good shape with low miles, but always with something wrong, i.e. wobbly engine mounting, cracked targa top, headlights stuck up, automatic (
), etc. Stumbled across the Cooper Corvettes, one of your supporting vendors, website and saw exactly what I was searching for: an LT-4. That weekend, I checked out the condition and mechanicals, went for a spin and was pretty much sold. Three days and seventeen large later, I'm driving home with nothing less than a Corvette. 
Unfortunately, the night we brought it home saw the worst storm of the summer, downing power lines and flooding my street. A small log disguised as a pile of leaves left a sizable nick in the paint underneath.

I would also mention that a week later, the master cylinder went belly-up on me (wasn't apparent during inspection), but Cooper's took care of it nicely. Stand-up bunch of guys, they take care of their customers. Very knowledgeable, sociable, solid workmanship. If you're in the NOVA area, they are the go-to guys if you don't have the time to do your own wrench-work.
Obligatory pics:







Apart from the heater core, which is just now starting to show signs of wearing out, she drives perfect and is otherwise fully operational. No funny business or odd sounds, still has her dual-mass flywheel, and as of today, just over 80,100 miles. I look forward to the day I take ownership of her title from the old man.
Thank you guys for looking, and thanks for being such a tremendous resource for research and trouble-shooting.
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
It was a bit on the high side (KBB quoted $13k), but they stood behind the vehicle and that turned out to be worth it. A pain-free experience is sometimes worth the extra dough when you're on a schedule.
Last edited by Axial; Sep 10, 2012 at 09:05 PM. Reason: Added KBB value.














Congrats, but holy sheet, I hope they kissed you when they were done 












